A life choice: Falling or Flying?
by Neil Zeltzer Life has many opportunities to fall or fly. I believe that given the choice, flying is always the better alternative. Most of my personal growth work has been about learning how to accept myself, no matter whom or what faced me. I love the opportunity to be “me” in every situation, and to love “me” with all my glorious golden parts. Loving my unknown and usually disliked hidden part is what 14...
Executive Director Carl Griesser explains changes in MKP’s international structure
To enhance understanding of how The ManKind Project is changing as an international organization, MKP executive director Carl Griesser responded to questions about the structural shifts now planned. Freed: How is the structure of The ManKind Project changing? Griesser: There are two main changes in the structure of MKP. One of them took place last February in downsizing the Project Council from 61 to 29 members. The Council meets once...
Fathering our daughters
by Jim Coleman I’m a father with four daughters and six grandchildren — two grandsons and four granddaughters. Doing men’s personal work along with corporate training and teaching for more than two decades as a trained facilitator and workshop leader, I’ve constantly heard about how men need to be fathers to their sons. I’ve also heard a lot about women and their daughters. So I’ve been asking myself,...
My big boy’s deepest needs: What I learned about myself as a Boys To Men mentor
By Noë Gold On the weekend of November 8, 2008, I “went through” again. What does that mean? you might ask. To the uninitiated, the term is meaningless. What did you go through? Where did you come from that you had to go through something to get there, and what did you find on the other side of whatever it is you went through? And, of course, would you do it again? What I went through was an initiation in manhood, and this...
I called my Dad
by Keith Jarvis On Father’s Day in 2004, I had the plan – or the idea of the plan – in the back of my mind for quite some time. I’d sent my Dad cards in previous years for Father’s Day and Christmas and even his birthday, when I could remember. I deliberately didn’t send him a card this year; I think I was trying to force myself to give him a call. I hadn’t spoken to my father in many years. I’m not exactly sure how long, but I’m...
San Diego Boys to Men conducts second father-son Rite of Passage Adventure
by George Selders The San Diego Center of Boys To Men completed their second Father-Son Weekend this past April. Thirteen fathers attended the weekend, supporting fifteen boys as they participated in their Rite of Passage Adventure (ROPA). In one case, two young brothers were fortunate to have both their father and their grandfather present for their initiatory entry into manhood. Another father was blessed to have two sons...
Music review: ‘Translucent’ – Solo instrumental piano CD by Roth Herrlinger
by Wayne Lee “When I sit at the piano, I open up to what will come through, and let inspiration lead as I lose myself in the music.” So says Roth Herrlinger, who has just released his first solo instrumental piano CD, “Translucent.” The sincerity of his statement speaks volumes on the simplicity, authenticity and penetrating connectedness of Herrlinger’s music. “All of these songs came from that...
ManKind Project leaders plan restructuring of organization at Glen Ivy meeting
by Judah Freed In May 2009, about 25 leaders from The ManKind Project worldwide gathered at the Glen Ivy Retreat Center in Corona, California. A similar meeting at Glen Ivy in February had set the agenda for this gathering. Over the course of four days, these men passed through an intense process of personal and group transformation that culminated in a profound rethinking about how to structure the international operations of MKP....
Poetry: My Sons
by Kit Lueder Sometimes my sons are Children of the Sun, Intense and radiant, Excited and streaming with energy. Sometimes my sons are Children of the Stars, Steady and ever-present, Independent and limitless. Sometimes my sons are Children of the Moon, Cool and distant, Not avoiding but not reaching out. Sometimes my sons are Children of Venus, Affectionate and loving, Close and considerate. Sometimes my sons are Children of Mars,...
Report from South Africa: Drawing on personal reserves and the community
by Anthony Eldridge Rogers In these uncertain times, I find myself sitting in the Western Cape of South Africa. Today in midwinter is cold — not cold by many standards, yet chilly for us. This current drop in temperature mirrors a drop in confidence among men and women about their collective futures. For men working to feed and sustain their families, now is a time for deeply drawing on their personal reserves and community with...
Three keys for fathers wanting to build a conflict-free relationship with an ex-wife
by Roy Biancalana If you listen to the mainstream media talk about divorced dads, you would think most of us, at best, are distant and disengaged, or at worst, dangerous dead-beats. Most divorced dads I know love their kids and want the best for them. Sure, there are men who abandon or even abuse their children, but most of us want to do everything within our power to ensure their complete well-being. To that end, although we no...
The eulogy for my father: It’s easy to praise famous men
by Lex Woodbury Knowing he was in his last days, my Dad – who never once acknowledged anything good about me on his own, given that I was failure in fulfilling his fantasy of corporate success – hobbled across the living room and told me, “Son, you’re a writer. I want you to write my eulogy.” I agreed, partly because as the eldest son, his eulogy was my job, partly because I felt suddenly flattered and affirmed,...
Dave Long’s cartoon: Father wounds
Dave Long spent his early years in management consulting and advertising before starting a successful Milwaukee manufacturing business in 1989. He’s been drawing cartoons and writing for publications since the 1980s. Married for 25 years, he has two children and resides in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. – is a deeply personal issue that everyone decides for himself. Sometimes the price is high, sometimes low. But this is not very...
Film review: Fatherhood and mentorship in “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou”
By Morgan Toane In Wes Anderson’s film, “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou,” we discover the legendary oceanographer and filmmaker, Steve Zissou (Bill Murray). Now an aging, self-absorbed charlatan with his halcyon days behind him, Zissou’s critical acclaim has waned along with his production budget. The man who inspired legions of “Team Zissou” fans no longer believes in himself. When...
Wisdom of the ages: From elderly to elder – A guide for fathers and sons
by Ken Plattner Fathers have sons, then sons have sons. It’s been going on for a long time, and that’s the way of it. The gracious and wise father has proudly held his children, rooted for them in school and sports, disciplined them with the courage to say “no,” encouraged their dreams, and emancipated them into mature adulthood. With good fortune, you were launched into the world by a wise father who was...
No paisley tie for me: What if you are not a father on Father’s Day?
by Edmond Manning I’m not getting a Father’s Day card from my kids this year. No necktie to go with the shirt they gave me at Christmas. No new TV remote. No weeding tools for the back yard. Why not? I’m not a father. As self-pitying as that sounds, I am mostly okay with the decision I have made to not become a biological father. And while marrying into a family with kids might still work for me, that option seems...
‘New Warrior’ men make good fathers
by Steve Norcross Once again, the third Sunday in June is Father’s Day. Greeting card publishers, clothing manufacturers, distilleries, and long-distance phone operators are hoping to realize a profit from the once-a-year obligation many feel to honor their dads. I hope my own kids, at least, call and wish me well, tell me that they love me. I’m put in mind, this time of year, to recall and honor my fathers and...
Raising children with emotional intelligence
by Harvey Deutschendorf Raising children with a healthy degree of self regard is critical. I was raised in a family where there was a steady diet of anger, shaming and put downs, coming from both my father and brother. I’ve since passed through many years of struggle to learn what it takes to have positive self regard. Since I never gained it from my family, I had to find a way to give it to myself. Let me share with you two...
Poetry: Rope swing
by Wayne Lee Seine rope is best, sixty-four strands of softest Norwegian twine, strong enough to lift the leads and rings up from the bottom of the sea, high toward the power block, lay them back down heavy as a slumbering whale on the afterdeck. Seine rope makes the safest swings, soft and strong, made for every weather, woven like steel – the very best work a father can do for his child. ———— [This poem...
The gift: A father’s tale in two parts
by Steven Lee Mankle With Father’s Day upon us, I want to speak about fatherhood in two voices. One voice is the subjective observer. The other voice tells a personal story. In this endeavor, I am deeply prompted to seek clarity within, and perhaps there will be some small nugget for you to mine as well. The Gift of Human Birth A Buddhist precept asks us to be mindful of how rare it is to find ourselves in human form on Earth....
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     The ManKind Project® is a global nonprofit education and training organization dedicated to helping men find and live the best of who they can be as men. We support over 1000 men's groups in over 10 countries around the world. Our flagship training is the New Warrior Training Adventure. Over 58,000 men have stepped out of their comfort zones to make a better life for themselves and their families. |
